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Gottheimer should play leading role on immigration

Posted:
Sep. 10, 2017 12:01 am

Editor:

Donald Trump's cruel and un-American decision to end the DACA program creates an urgent need for bipartisan congressional action -- as reflected in the Herald's Sept. 6 headline, "Immigration challenge from Trump puts Congress on the spot."

In particular, Sussex County's freshman representative, Josh Gottheimer, should play a leading role in passing legislation to protect the DREAMers. Gottheimer is, after all, co-chair of the bipartisan "problem solvers caucus." Rarely has an issue more clearly cried out for bipartisan problem solving than the domestic humanitarian crisis set to be unleashed by ending DACA.

All sides must understand that the DREAMers -- in order to qualify for DACA in the first place -- were brought here when they were too young to have any say in the matter, are enrolled in school or gainfully employed, and have maintained clean criminal records.

Take the example of Jesus Contreras, a DREAMer whose protected status allowed him to become a paramedic and work tirelessly to save lives during Hurricane Harvey. Does anyone honestly believe America would benefit if Jesus were forced back into the shadows?

We should also recognize that ending DACA without a replacement would cause turmoil not only for the roughly 800,000 DREAMers, but also for the millions of Americans who are their children, spouses, coworkers, employers, teachers, neighbors and friends. As the Herald also reported on Sept. 6, many experts predict long-term negative economic impacts from the resulting chaos.

Congress absolutely has the power to avert the terrible consequences of the president's wrongheaded decision. Doing so requires precisely the sort of clearheaded bipartisan "problem solving" we sent Josh Gottheimer to Washington to achieve. We, as his constituents, must all raise our voices to make clear to Representative Gottheimer that we expect him to make good on his rhetoric by showing leadership on this issue.

Grateful for all utility workers Editor: 1:30 p.m. All is quiet except for the snow plows. I am relieved not to hear the wail of the firehouse siren, maybe our firemen are able to rest? I am writing this letter while we still have daylight.

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